New Updates on The Edge

New on The Edge

Message from PD&R Leadership:
The Power of Providing a Housing Choice Voucher to a Homeless Family
HUD's Family Options Study is a multi-site, random assignment experiment designed to study the impact of various housing and services interventions on homeless families. Director of PD&R's Program Evaluation Division Carol S. Star details the study design, including the interventions available to families enrolled in the study, and presents the short-term outcomes of participating families.

Research:
Exploring Greater Access to FHA Mortgage Insurance for Small Rental Investors
Single-family and small multifamily rental properties constitute 87 percent of all rental units in the nation, but the FHA mortgage insurance program does not ensure mortgage credit access for these rental housing properties. A recent HUD-sponsored study examines options for making FHA's mortgage insurance programs available to these small rental investors.

In Practice:
Mixed-Income, Transit-Oriented Development in Silver Spring, Maryland
The Residences at Thayer Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland offer 52 mixed-income housing units in close proximity to a metro station, several bus lines, and community amenities. Collaboration between The Residences' developer and Montgomery County's Department of Housing and Community Affairs helped the LEED-certified development strike a delicate balance between meeting stringent regulatory requirements and successfully providing affordable housing.

Trending:
Introduction to the eGIS Storefront, An Interview with Rob Renner
To meet the increasing demand for geospatial technology, HUD has created the eGIS Storefront, a one-stop shop for the agency's geospatial data resources and GIS mapping tools. Rob Renner, a social science analyst with PD&R and head of GIS activities at HUD, discusses how the storefront coordinates the agency's geospatial data efforts and aids current and potential users of the data.

Policy Update:
Obstacles, Solutions, and Self-Determination in Indian Housing Policy
Native Americans nationwide are more likely to live in homes that are crowded, physically inadequate, and unaffordable when compared with the U.S. as a whole. The federal government has a legal obligation to promote the welfare of Native Americans in Indian Country, which it fulfills through a self-determination framework. Efforts to improve housing conditions in Indian Country, however, are complicated by factors such as remote locations, weak tribal economies, and restrictions on the use of tribal land.

Spotlight on PD&R Data:
U.S. Housing Market Conditions
PD&R's U.S. Housing Market Conditions (USHMC) website contains national, regional, state, metropolitan, and local data and analysis in one location. Featured USHMC charts highlight changes in the annual value of new single- and multifamily residential buildings, new housing units, and residential improvements.